Michael Arsenault is charged with burglarizing several businesses in Toms RiverToms River Police Department

TOMS RIVER — A Toms River man caught walking down the street with a box of stolen food was arrested for robbing a local restaurant and has been linked to a string of burglaries, authorities said today.

Michael Arsenault, 54, who has been living at the American Motel in Toms River, was charged early Thursday morning with a number of counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief in connection with break-ins at several downtown businesses in the past two months, said Ralph Stocco, a spokesman for the Toms River Police Department.

Stocco said Patrolman Eric Harris spotted Arsenault walking on Route 166 near James Street around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday carrying a large box on his head.

When Harris approached him, Arsenault dropped the box and ran north on Route 166, Stocco said. Harris chased him and after a brief struggle, Arsenault was taken into custody, Stocco said. Police found tucked in Arsenault’s pants a plastic bag containing $300 in cash, he noted. The box contained a flashlight, some tools and perishable food that was still cold, Stocco said.

The bag of cash contained some bills that had messages of good luck on them linking them to a nearby restaurant, he said. When police checked Shut Up and Eat restaurant on Main Street, they found a smashed out window frame, Stocco said. Additionally, the phone lines in the restaurant were cut, the interior was damaged and food was missing, he said.